Modernising customs procedures: European
Commission welcomes adoption of Customs 2013 Programme by
Council

The European Commission welcomes the adoption by
the Council of the Customs 2013 programme (see IP/06/639)
for the period 2008 - end 2013. The new programme aims at helping Member States
to better combat customs fraud and to cut compliance costs for traders. It will
support new security policy initiatives, the implementation of modernisation of
the customs code, and the introduction of a pan-European paperless customs
environment (see IP/05/1501).
It will also contribute to the development and management of the trans European
IT customs systems such as the Integrated Community Tariff (TARIC).

László Kovács, Commissioner for Taxation and Customs said:
“I am very happy of the quick and timely adoption of the Customs 2013
Programme. It will contribute to enhancing cooperation between customs
administrations. The programme aims at contributing to the simplification and
speeding up of procedures, facilitating legitimate trade, and supporting the
fight against customs fraud. Moreover, it will increase security and safety of
EU citizens."

Background information

The Customs 2013 programme is crucial to the functioning of the Customs
Union. Main objectives of the programme are:

Reinforcing security and safety within the Community and at the external
border;

Strengthening the fight against fraud and protecting the financial
interests of the Community and Member States;

Increasing the competitiveness of European business by speeding up customs
procedures through the creation of a European paperless electronic customs
environment

At an operational level, the new programme will in
particular:

Support the development of a pan-European electronic customs;

Pursue international customs cooperation in the field of supply chain
security;

Support the further development of simplified procedures for compliant
traders (Authorised Economic
Operator[1]);

Ensure a performing exchange of information between national administrations
as well as with traders through enhancing the trans-European customs IT systems
(e.g. TARIC[2],
NCTS[3]);

Support the development of training tools available to all customs
administrations

The new programme's value ranges far beyond the
direct stakeholders which are the Customs administrations of the Member States:
European citizens, in particular, will benefit from better security and safety
at the Community's external border as well as from a state-of-the-art
technological environment. Economic operators and their organisations may take
part in the activities organised under the programme whenever this is useful to
achieve the Programme objectives.

Further information on the Customs 2013 programme is available on the
following website: